A Visit to Melaque (San Patricio)
For a change of scenery, you may want to wander over to Melaque (aka San Patricio), 5km (3 miles) from Barra on the same bay. You can walk on the beach from Barra or take one of the frequent local buses from the bus station near the main square in Barra. The bus is marked MELAQUE. To return to Barra, take the bus marked CIHUATLAN.
Melaque's pace is even more laid-back than Barra's, and though it's a larger village, it seems smaller. It has fewer restaurants and less to do. Although there are more hotels, or "bungalows," as they are usually called, few manage the charm of those in Barra; if Barra hotels are full on a holiday weekend, Melaque would be a second choice. The paved road ends where the town begins. A few yachts bob in the harbor, and the palm-lined beach is gorgeous.
If you come by bus from Barra, you can exit anywhere in town or stay on until the last stop, which is the bus station in the middle of town a block from the beach. Restaurants and hotels line the beach. Coming into town from the main road, you'll be on the town's main street, Avenida López Mateos. You'll pass the main square on the way to the waterfront, where there's a trailer park. The street going left (southeast) along the bay is Avenida Gómez Farías; the one going right (northwest) is Avenida Miguel Ochoa López.
Where to Dine -- At the north end of Melaque beach is Los Pelícanos (no phone). It serves the usual seafood specialties; the tender fried squid is delectable. In addition, you can find burritos, nachos, and hamburgers. Many Barra guests come here to stake a place on the beach and use the restaurant as headquarters for sipping and nipping. Open daily from 8am to 10pm, it's a peaceful place to watch the pelicans bobbing. The restaurant is at the far end of the bay before the Hotel Legazpi (tel. 315/355-5397), a pleasant place to stay. It has 20 rooms, charges $40 (£20) for a double, and doesn't accept credit cards.
In addition to the Los Pelícanos, there are many rustic palapa restaurants on the beach and farther along the bay at the end of the beach.
